A2fan Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 I am going to restore a metal ended Lachenal in the next few months - first step is a new bellows - I believe that C Dipper makes them and that they are available from concertina-spares and concertinaconnection and also - what is the general consensus as to the best quality? Are there any others worth considering? Any info appreciated Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 I am going to restore a metal ended Lachenal in the next few months - first step is a new bellows - I believe that C Dipper makes them and that they are available from concertina-spares and concertinaconnection and also - what is the general consensus as to the best quality? Are there any others worth considering?Any info appreciated Thanks Willie van Wyk of South Africa makes excellent bellows comparable to Rosalie Dipper's bellows. (Phone him at +27-12-802-1104) Email: iona@kleinfontein.net Wim and Karen Wakker of the Concertina Connection makes good bellows (they are currently relocating from the Netherlands to the U.S.A. Check their website featured on C.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 (edited) Rosalie Dipper makes the best bellows from what I've seen. Concertina Connection come a very close second. The bellows made by David Leese at Concertina-spares.com are good value for money but are designed as an economical replacement bellows for less valuable instruments. I've used bellows from all three with good results. Edited February 5, 2008 by Theo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Harrison Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 I've used Dave Leese bellows on two rose-wood ended Lachenals with great success and I have heard that John Connors are as good as any for anglos;one of the main English dealers rates them as best. Robin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d.elliott Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 (edited) Rosalie Dipper makes the best bellows from what I've seen. Concertina Connection come a very close second. The bellows made by David Leese at Concertina-spares.com are good value for money but are designed as an economical replacement bellows for less valuable instruments. I've used bellows from all three with good results. Theo, David Leese also makes and fits a top grade bellows as well as his medium & lower end range. Yesterday I took delivery of a tenor-treble (big frame) Aeola set, they really are good. Dave Edited February 9, 2008 by d.elliott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_boveri Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 rosalie's bellows are my favorite. but as long as they dont buckle (which i've only seen once) and are not wobbly, there should be no problems with any other well-recommended bellows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Adey Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Rosalie Dipper makes the best bellows from what I've seen. I've used bellows from all three with good results. Sitting on my knee as I opened this thread was my Lachenal tenor/treble, restored by Colin Dipper 17 years ago and with replacement bellows by Rosalie at the same time. Rosalie's bellows are superb. I've not seen those of some of the other people mentioned but I've yet to play an instrument with bellows as good as those made by Rosalie Dipper. When my Wheatstone baritone needs new lungs, as it will do in a year or two, I know who I'll be asking to do the work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidFR Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 I have heard that John Connors are as good as any for anglos I've never played a concertina with Dipper bellows, but I would swear by my Connors bellows! They're made to Groff specifications if it makes any difference, but I find they have good stiffness without being too rigid, and I love the extra depth which allows for great overall volume with fewer folds. -David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McIsog Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 If you are adventurous and have some tools you can roll your own - Bob Tedrow has posted his clever instructions for making bellows on his web site - Bellows Making Instructions. I am going to restore a metal ended Lachenal in the next few months - first step is a new bellows - I believe that C Dipper makes them and that they are available from concertina-spares and concertinaconnection and also - what is the general consensus as to the best quality? Are there any others worth considering?Any info appreciated Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juhu Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 Out of interest , does anyone know a recent price for 8 fold Dipper bellows [ so as i can start saving] Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Out of interest , does anyone know a recent price for 8 fold Dipper bellows [ so as i can start saving] Thanks. That question should really be addressed to the Dippers themselves. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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